Daydreaming of Disney Blog

Today's post is going to be a bit shorter than my last few since I've had a lot of studio work this week, and as much as I love writing this blog, my academics always come first.

This week I want to share with you one of my favorite hidden treasures of Hollywood Studios - One Man's Dream! This little gallery is technically part of the Animation Courtyard, but it sits outside of the entrance to that section of the park, so you're more likely to stumble upon it on your way to Pixar Place.

There are three major reasons why One Man's Dream is a fantastic, often forgotten attraction. Hopefully this post will convince you to make time to stop by it, the next time you're at the Studios.

1. Relax in the AC

First, it offers the perfect escape from the rest of the park. Let's be honest... as magical as the parks are, they're still super hot and full of crowds. Sometimes you need a break from all that! Since One Man's Dream isn't about the latest and greatest animated flick, kids are not begging to go to it. Thus, it's usually not crowded at all.

Plus, it's air conditioned and it's a gallery space, so you can move through it at your own pace. This offers a nice break from rushing from one reservation to the next.

2. Learn about Disney History

The main portion of One Man's Dream is a walk-through gallery space with a collection of Disney photos and memorabilia. As you walk through, you journey through the life of Walt Disney - from his second grade school desk, to the last photo taken of him in Disneyland. They have models of many attractions including Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty's castles. (As an architecture nerd who dreams of working as an imagineer, of course I'm going to focus on the scale models!)

They also have a 15 minute video that plays on repeat that tells you more about Walt's life, if you don't like reading all the signs and plaques throughout the exhibit. Plus, this video is narrated by the Disney legend, Julie Andrews! So definitely check it out!

Honestly, One Man's Dream is the best Walt Disney museum you're ever going to find. Every Disney fan should see it to gain a larger appreciation for the man behind the magic.

This was probably my favorite model in the exhibit. I love that they included Walt in it as the scale figure!

3. Meet brand new Disney characters

One of the most recent additions to One Man's Dream is a character meeting spot in the back of the gallery. This spot is unique among the other character meet and greets in the parks because it features characters from the latest Disney movies - characters that can't be found anywhere else in the parks.

They started with Moana, and now have Star Lord and baby Groot! They're supposed to stay through the end of the year, and we don't know which character will replace them, but my money is on some characters from Pixar's new movie Coco.

But the best part about this character meeting spot is that it is unmarked! It doesn't show up on the park maps or show guides. They only have one tiny sign outside the entrance to the gallery. This means that the lines to meet the characters are super short! We only waited ten minutes to see Star Lord and Groot!

Isn't Baby Groot so adorable?!?!

So what do you think? Do you love One Man's Dream? Have you walked by it without even noticing it? Let me know in the comments below!

Monica Toren

Monica Toren is a blogger for the Daydreaming of Disney Blog and a college architecture student at Carnegie Mellon University.

Welcome!

Hi! I'm Monica and I started the Daydreaming of Disney Blog to share Disney crafts, Disney vacation tips, and any other sides of my Disney obsession. I post weekly, so be sure to stop back often for new content! Read more...

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